Whitman Breed Attorneys Recognized as 2024 Best Lawyers in America LOCAL STRENGTH | GLOBAL INSIGHT

Whitman Breed is pleased to announce that five of our attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 30^th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America^©. Please join us in congratulating:

Whitman Breed is pleased to announce that the Firm has been selected for inclusion in the Chambers 2023 High Net Worth Guide as one of Connecticut’s leading firms for private wealth law. Partners Charles Pieterse and George Smith have been individually recognized by Chambers for their private wealth litigation and trusts and estates practices.  Charlie is the top-ranked lawyer in Band 1 of Chambers’ Private Wealth Disputes category in Connecticut. George is among lawyers ranked in Chambers’ Private Wealth Law category for his work “advis[ing] affluent individuals on an array of matters including estate and trust planning and administration. Whitman Breed congratulates and applauds Charlie and George on their hard work and recognition by the Chambers 2023 High Net Worth Guide.

The Firm recently completed a pro bono engagement initiated at the request of the U.S. District Court.  The plaintiff in question, acting pro se, commenced a lawsuit against her former employer in November 2022, asserting that the defendant had failed to pay her wages in violation of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and the Connecticut Wage Act.  The Firm thereafter agreed to represent the plaintiff at the request of the District Court.  Following the completion of written discovery, the parties participated in a mediation before Magistrate Judge Robert Spector, resulting in a settlement of all claims asserted.  James Riley acted as lead counsel in the matter, assisted by John Hendele.

Whitman Breed is pleased to announce that Cyd Smith has again been recognized by Chambers USA as one of the leading commercial real estate lawyers in Connecticut. As Chambers’ client-and-peer-feedback-based review notes, Cyd “boasts a strong practice in the real estate space” and is “adept at advising clients on acquisitions, leasing and financing transactions.” A description of Chambers’ rigorous selection process is available here.

Whitman Breed was featured in the Connecticut Law Tribune for its win in a nearly decade-old litigation by a major European bank seeking to enforce a judgment exceeding $300 million against the Firm’s client, an international investor.  Whitman Breed and its co-counsel, Zaroff & Zaroff LLP, obtained a complete victory at trial in 2021, which was unanimously affirmed by the Connecticut Supreme Court in May 2023.  Charles W. Pieterse, Wyatt R. Jansen, and John M. Hendele worked on the matter.  Read the complete article here and the Supreme Court’s opinion here.

Whitman Breed Partner, Jevera Hennessey, along with her husband Bill Hennessey, were recently named the 2023 City of Stamford Citizens of the Year.  Jevera grew up in Greenwich, but, along with Bill, she has called Stamford home since the 1980s. Besides both of their professional work as attorneys, the two have dedicated countless hours to volunteering for an eclectic selection of organizations and agencies over the decades.

Jevera has served on the board of directors for SilverSource, which provides services for at-need seniors, the Stamford Public Education Foundation and the Hill House. She is currently on the Professional Advisors Council for the Greenwich Historical Society and previously served on the Professional Advisors Council for the Fairfield County Community Foundation. Jevera was a governor appointee to the Connecticut Board of Examiners of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. Currently, she is a member of Stamford’s Community Emergency Response Team and serves on the board of the Stamford Hospital Foundation. READ MORE